Indian Paralympics gold medalist Sumit Antil expressed his ambition to reach the 80-meter mark in the javelin throw in the next few years. This came after his remarkable performance at the Paris Paralympics, where he secured his second consecutive gold medal with a record throw of 70.59m. The Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist dominated the F64 javelin throw final in Paris this September, breaking the Paralympics record twice and securing the top spot on the podium. Antil was speaking at the GoSports Foundation’s annual Sports Awards Night 2024 in Mumbai on Monday.

According to a press release, Antil noted: “Before the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics, I announced my goal of reaching the 70-meter mark at a press conference. Many doubted this and said it was impossible for a Paralympian. However, within 1.5 years.” “I reached this milestone at the World Championships. Now my dream is to reach 80 meters in the coming years.”

Several sports icons were honored at the awards ceremony. Paralympic heroes Dharambir and Rakesh Kumar, table tennis star Sreeja Akula and badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty were named Athletes of the Year. The event celebrated the achievements of champions such as Muhammed Anas and Nikhat Zareen, who were named the ‘Most Consistent Athletes of the Year’. Sumit Antil was named the most valuable Paralympian for his outstanding performance in Paris.

The ceremony brought together over 100 athletes as well as mentors and supporters to celebrate achievements in various sporting disciplines. The evening also highlighted the collaborative efforts that drive Indian sport forward and provide corporate partners and donors the opportunity to connect with the athletes they support.

Nikhat Zareen said of her recognition: “Coming from a conservative Muslim family where girls are often expected to stay at home and get married, my father, an athlete himself, thought differently. He supported me from the beginning. My mother, however, was afraid that no one would marry my sisters and me, and assured her that once I succeeded, a line of suitors would form at our door!

Table tennis star Sreeja Akula also spoke about her journey: “From a young age, I dreamed of representing India and winning medals. It took years of dedication, resilience and support to achieve this. My inspiration was my sister, who excelled in sports but didn’t make it.” Her story motivated me to take up table tennis seriously, as I excelled academically in grade 12, they ultimately supported my passion with my coach and organizations like the GoSports Foundation.”

Suhas Yathiraj, silver medalist at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics, was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Community & Sport award. Cricketer Nandini Kashyap received the Spotlight of the Year award for her exceptional domestic achievements. Young talents like diver Palak Sharma and para-swimmer Himanshu Nandal were recognized as the most promising athletes of the year.

The awards also recognized rising stars and veteran artists, showcasing the immense potential of Indian sports.

Full list of winners:

Spotlight of the year: Nandini Kashyap

Most Promising Athlete (Paralympic Sports): Himanshu Nandal

Most Promising Athlete (Olympic Sport): Palak Sharma

Best Achiever of the Year (Olympic Sport): Hariharan Ruban

Best Achiever of the Year (Paralympic Sports): Yash Kumar

Most Consistent Athlete of the Year (Olympic Sport – Male): Muhammed Anas

Most Consistent Athlete of the Year (Olympic Sport – Female): Nikhat Zareen

Most Consistent Athlete of the Year (Paralympic Sports): Rakesh Kumar

Despite all odds: Raja Muthupandi

Joseph Ollapally Memorial Award: Rakshitha Sree

Athlete of the Year (Olympic Sport – Male): Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

Athlete of the Year (Olympic Sport – Female): Sreeja Akula

Athlete of the Year (Paralympic Sport – Male): Dharambir

Athlete of the Year (Paralympic Sport – Female): Aruna Tanwar

Most Valuable Paralympian: Sumit Antil

Outstanding Contribution to Community and Sports: Suhas Yathiraj

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)